The Classic (newspaper)

The Classic is the student-run high school newspaper of Townsend Harris High School in Queens, New York. Frequently named[1] the best high school newspaper[2] in New York City[3] by Baruch College's NYC public school journalism awards,[4] the paper has run free of censorship and administrative review since its founding in the fall of 1984. In recent years, reporting by The Classic has been cited by publications like The New York Times,[5] The Washington Post,[6] The New York Post,[7] The Wall Street Journal,[8] and the Associated Press.[9] Classic journalists have also been featured in various publications, including Teen Vogue,[10] The Village Voice,[11] and The New York Times.[12] The paper publishes new content online on weeknights throughout the school year and publishes a print edition of collected pieces on a quarterly basis.

For other uses, see Classic (disambiguation).

The Classic
TypePrint/Online
SchoolTownsend Harris High School at Queens College
Owner(s)Independent
Editor-in-chiefCarina Fucich, Isabel Jagsaran, Sadeea Morshed, and Katherine Lian (Multimedia Chief)
Founded1984
CityFlushing, New York
Websitethhsclassic.com

History

The original Townsend Harris Hall Prep School, founded in 1849 and located in Manhattan, was closed by New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia in 1942. After the reopening of Townsend Harris in Queens in the fall of 1984, the first edition of The Classic was published that December.[13] The Classic ran exclusively as a print newspaper, published around ten times a year, until the fall of 2012 when it began to publish both in print and online.

The first Editor-in-Chief of The Classic, Heather Nash, credits her father with coming up with the name for the paper after seeing bumper stickers that read, “Townsend Harris: A Touch of the Classic.”[14]

Free press charter

Malcolm Largmann, the first principal of the re-founded Townsend Harris, retired in the spring of 2001. During his tenure, student editors printed the newspaper without administrative review of content despite the 1988 Hazelwood Supreme Court decision that granted principals broad powers to oversee the content of school newspapers.[15] Before Largmann's retirement, then Classic advisor Ilsa Cowen worked with student editors to draft a charter that would ensure Largmann's decision to refrain from administrative censorship of the paper became a matter of school policy.

The Classic Charter formally established the paper as an "open forum for the expression of student views," a commitment ensuring that the 1969 Tinker Supreme Court decision applies to Classic journalists rather than the Hazelwood decision. Largmann signed the Charter in 2000 and every subsequent principal of Townsend Harris has signed it upon becoming principal. Since its creation, the Charter has been cited by various publications[16] in discussions about censorship[17] and first amendment rights[18] in schools.

Principal hiring controversy and fake news accusation

In August 2016, Rosemarie Jahoda was named interim acting principal of Townsend Harris after then Principal Anthony Barbetta abruptly announced his departure from the school. Before Jahoda was appointed permanent principal of the school, a petition and a sit-in protest[19] in December resulted in the hiring process being temporarily paused. The NYC Department of Education reopened the hiring process the following month. The Classic live-streamed the sit-in, and the video was cited in coverage[20] from professional outlets.[21] 2017 Editors Mehrose Ahmad and Sumaita Hasan, who live-streamed the protest, published a series of pieces covering the community's objections to Jahoda's appointment and the DOE's process for hiring a permanent principal.[22]

“We’re here not only to affirm that the journalism done by these young reporters is accurate and in context, but to celebrate it at a national convention of 4,000-plus high school journalists.”

Student Press Law Center Executive Director Hadar Harris

In March 2017, a representative from the superintendent's office met with local politicians and characterized the news stories about Jahoda as "fake news." Ahmad and Hasan obtained evidence of the accusation made at the closed door meeting and then published a letter to the superintendent, chancellor, and mayor disputing the charge of fake news.[23] The accusation, and The Classic's response, was covered[24] by numerous outlets,[25] with a source in an article by The Columbia Journalism Review calling it "the first time we’ve heard of the ‘fake news’ weapon being turned on students."[26]

Ultimately, Jahoda was not hired for the permanent position. For their months of coverage, Ahmad and Hasan received the national Courage in Student Journalism award from the Student Press Law Center in the fall of 2017.[27]

Teacher sexual misconduct coverage

In the spring of 2020, an alumni-run Instagram page posted allegations of sexual misconduct by former Townsend Harris teachers. Classic journalists investigated the claims[28] and published a series of pieces[29] from May 2020 to June 2021[30] about how the school had responded to claims of educator sexual misconduct. The articles explored policies and procedures that prevented open discussions with students and families after teachers are removed for allegations of misconduct. In November 2021, then Editors-in-Chief Ryan Eng, Julia Maciejak, and Jasmine Palma appeared on the front page of The New York Post[31] after Post journalist Susan Edelman reported that Eng, Maciejak, and Palma's behind the scenes efforts, including their filing of a Freedom of Information request, to report on another teacher accused of misconduct led to his removal from the school.[32] Eng, Maciejak, and Palma's further reporting led to a student sit-in, more coverage from city publications,[33] an on-the-record meeting with the United Federation of Teachers,[34] and a pledge from the DOE to change policies related to how the city handles educator misconduct.[35]

In February 2022, Eng, Maciejak, and Palma were featured[36] on an Instagram Live session with New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, who won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse story. The three Classic editors were invited to discuss Kantor and Twohey's book on the Weinstein story and their own experiences covering sexual misconduct in a high school.[37]

Organization and content

The Classic is led by a team of three Editors-in-Chief and four Managing Editors. They oversee a team of over forty section editors and over two hundred staff members.[38] The News, Features, Opinion, Arts & Entertainment, Science & Technology, and Sports department editors and staff writers produce coverage for the online and print editions. Multimedia, Art, Photography, Social Media, sports media, and livestream editors and staff produce additional content for the online/print editions and for social media platforms. The copy editing department reviews and fact checks all content. An advisor works with student editors and staff members throughout the publication process. Student leaders make all final publication decisions.

Coverage

According to The Classic Charter, "no subjects" are "off limits" to Classic journalists for publication.[39] Student editors meet with staff reporters to generate topics for coverage and use a Classic style guide to ensure professional procedures are followed.

Classic reporters regularly request and receive comments from press offices.[40] Arts & Entertainment critics have press credentials to review films from major movie studios prior to their release.[41]

Multimedia publications

The Classic runs a YouTube channel, multiple podcasts, and produces a yearly college video. The creation of the 2020 College Video, produced remotely during the COVID-19 Pandemic, was spotlighted in a New York Times article on student journalists; the final video was published in the online version of the article on the Times website.[42]

References
  1. "Harris takes top honors". Queens Chronicle. December 16, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  2. "Newsies! Top high school and middle school newspapers - NY Daily News". New York Daily News. January 15, 2016. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  3. "2020-21 Newsies Awards With Judges' Comments and Bios |". Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  4. "2022 Best in NYC Public High School Journalism ("Newsies") Award Winners and Judges' Comments and Bios |". Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  5. Harris, Elizabeth A. (March 9, 2017). "Rising Tumult Over Principal at Elite Queens High School". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  6. "Analysis | High School Newspapers Are a Thrifty Way to Teach Civics". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  7. "Teacher remained at Townsend Harris High after alleged sex with student". New York Post. November 23, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  8. Brody, Leslie (June 1, 2015). "NYC Schools Can Show Students How to Use Condoms in Health Classes". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  9. Hajela, Deepti; June 1, Associated Press | Posted-; P.m, 2015 at 5:51. "NYC schools can show students how to use condoms". www.ksl.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  10. "These High School Journalists Refuse to Be Called Fake News". Teen Vogue. March 13, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  11. Voice, Village (March 21, 2017). "The DOE Called This Queens School Newspaper "Fake News." The Students Responded With Journalism". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  12. Shapiro, Eliza; Chen, David W. (June 25, 2020). "How These Students Lost, and Recaptured, the Magic of Senior Year". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  13. "Classic newspaper Volume 1 Issue 1 by The Classic - Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  14. Rana, Ekta (June 27, 2015). "New Hall of Fame Inductees Honored". The Classic. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  15. Slotnick, Allison (February 2001). "Largmann signs charter preserving freedom of the press". issuu.com. p. 3. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  16. "For Student Journalists, Challenges in Putting Out the School Newspaper | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". WNYC. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  17. Benson, Andrew (June 21, 2021). "Teens rally to 'Stand for Speech' in NYC - Student Press Law Center". Student Press Law Center. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  18. "A New Vision for the First Amendment in Schools". ASCD. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  19. Townsend Harris Sit-In Clips, retrieved July 26, 2022
  20. "Townsend Harris Students and Teachers Mount Fight Against Acting Principal". DNAinfo New York. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  21. "Students at Townsend Harris High School hold hallway sit-in to protest Principal Rosemarie Jahoda". Chalkbeat New York. December 12, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  22. "Secret recordings and charges of 'fake news': How two award-winning student journalists exposed their principal's missteps". Chalkbeat New York. November 28, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  23. "At District Leadership meeting on Friday, Superintendent's office representative labels THHS issues with IAP Jahoda "Fake News." The Classic responds in a letter to the Mayor, Chancellor, and Superintendent". The Classic. March 5, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  24. Dwyer, Kate (March 13, 2017). "These High School Journalists Refuse to Be Called Fake News". Teen Vogue. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  25. Wagner, Brielle (April 6, 2017). "High School Journalists Seek Justice". New York Minute Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  26. "Now even high school journalists are getting smeared with 'fake news' claim". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  27. Center, Student Press Law (November 16, 2017). "NEWS RELEASE: Not "fake news:" National award celebrates tenacious New York City high school journalists whose reporting forced school leadership change". Student Press Law Center. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  28. "After alumni share allegations of faculty sexual misconduct, silence from the Townsend Harris administration". The Classic. May 26, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  29. "EDITORIAL: A sixth alumna has shared allegations of faculty misconduct from the past with The Classic; THHS needs a focused training program to protect students". The Classic. May 19, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  30. "Many THHS students lack essential knowledge to protect themselves from educator sexual misconduct: here's what students don't know and what they need to know". The Classic. June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  31. "November 21, 2021". New York Post. November 21, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  32. "Student journalists at NYC's Townsend Harris HS help boot 'sex' teacher". New York Post. November 20, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  33. "High school journalists help uncover a scandal at their school". www.ny1.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  34. "As UFT representatives meet with Townsend Harris students to discuss proposed educator sexual misconduct reforms, DOE tells The Classic it's working on policy changes". The Classic. April 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  35. "News Analysis: Crediting Townsend Harris students, the DOE tells The Classic it's working on new policies to address educator sexual misconduct". The Classic. April 27, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  36. Center, Student Press Law (February 9, 2022). "Book Club: Join Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey and acclaimed high school journalists to talk "Chasing the Truth"". Student Press Law Center. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  37. "Hunter Professor Moderates IG Live With Award-Winning NYT Journalists". Hunter College Journalism. March 9, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  38. "The 2022-2023 Editor Team". The Classic. March 10, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  39. "CLASSIC CHARTER". Google Docs. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  40. Palma, Jasmine; Eng (August 31, 2021). "The DOE calls the air purifiers that will be in NYC classrooms "HEPA purifiers." The Classic asked the CDC if that's accurate. Here's how the CDC responded". The Classic. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  41. The Classic's Operation Tomatometer: Episode 22 - Ambulance, retrieved July 26, 2022
  42. Shapiro, Eliza; Chen, David W. (June 25, 2020). "How These Students Lost, and Recaptured, the Magic of Senior Year". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
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